Ship&#39;s signaling system



y 10lexample, `by reason of storm,

I 25 particularly on. passenger i `pleasure cruises, to use-thephonograph or radio y 40 ingr electrical network leadingftoselected sta.

tions onythelsh'ip to to transmit orders "from the control point (for Patented Mar. 16, 1937 UNITED `STATES PATENT orf-fici:

. "snns sIGNALrNo sYsTEM Robert `Rodger ,Glen,

Glens 1 Patents i and Holdings, Inc., a corporation. of Delaware "Application Marcher 1935, 1s"

Anglet, France, assigner New York,`

rial No. raue i i i In Great Britain September 22, 1934 solaires. (o1. v1749-4) Y'Ihis" invention relates to improvements in ships." signaling systems and more particularly to ships telephone systems,` and has for its object generally to provide means for ensuring the 5 `transmission and-reception `of communications `on board i ship from `a control point, such as the i bridge, to stations onithe ship.

There are occasionswhen aship at sea or thev i ships `company encounters grave danger, `for collision, fire, icebergs, -mutinyyzactionof `anenemy,` or other disaster. wInsuch circumstances,` and especially on large vesselscarrying many people, the danger is `greatly increasedfify panic and disorder del5` velop;vbut, onfthe contrary,'the chances ofsaving life` and =property"-`and generally speaking, the chances of 'overcoming thedanger "are greatly f increased if a commandingauthority, suchl as the i master loffthe shipfcan ensure the 'reception of 20` his orders 1" at `"stations `throughout the ship. Loudspeaking telephones are in use in service ships;` but in` mostfinstances, `these are appropriated to ordinary`telephone communication from one `person to another. It is also known, ships undertaking loudspeakers for -making announcements.

`A specific object of the "presentfinvention is to provide apparatus` fof afoolproof character to c'lude'samicrophone" located at a control point of the ship (for example, the bridge) an amplifier in a' suitablyqprotected ,situation, a connect'- Which it may be necessary example, the boat-stations) *andrloudspeakers noiseassociated with a storm, panic, or other i disturbance,'secured at suolistations.` nientsdl` the generaltype referred to have shown are desirable `for systems provided in accordance "with the invention. `It has been found that constructed in accordance withthat my copending application, Patent loudspeakers disclosed` in issued\^I"ebruaryy 23, 1937, have the forth, and the scopel be installed permanentlyon a ship as part of `1 to enable one inr command `at a f to convey oral messages to stacapable `of sufficient outplit to be heard abovethe Experiments with sound reproducing instruthat instruments of `ahighly penetrating quality over the ship.`

desired penetrating quality and are therefore preferred. i l

A loudspeaker, according toimysaid copending` application, suitable fora ships signaling systern ofV the.` present invention,A should have a sound cone of relatively wide angle, for example, in the neighborhood `of P178 degrees, in order to withstand the better the effects of wind and rain. Both the driving and the driven cones are 'preferably made of metal and in size are of `from six `to eight inches indiameter while the distance between them `is made relatively small, for `example; 3/64ths of an inch. i

i `Other objects of the invention will in part be obvious and willin part appear hereinafter. e invention `accordingly comprises the features of construction, combinationof elements, andiarrangement of parts,`"which will be exempliiied in` the construction hereinafter set of the invention will be indicated in the claims;

Fora fuller understandingof the nature and objects of` the invention reference should be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic side view of a ship showingthe location ofthe various elements and the `wiring arrangement; f f

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the bridge; Fig;` 3 is aview'of the bridge looking forward; ,I Fig. 4 is a section of Vone form of loudspeaker;

i and` the bridge adjacent to a centrifugal port 2. `Adjacent to the microphone is a switch@ which 1* may, by means'of a known form` of lock, be' under the sole control of the oiicerin command.` i 'The microphone is connected bymeansof a suitable electrical network to an amplifier 14 preferably disposed in Va central protected. position,"such as" the radio room. native oremergency use may be provided, if deslred, and located inthe gyro room of the ship.`

`A second amplifier 5 for alter- 1 'I'he electrical connections'have `outlets available to loudspeakers ofthe kindlater describedsecured at desired stations (i. ewigroups'of stations).

Such stations 'may be, for' example, J

(l) Lookout stations as shown at 8 and 1;

(2) Boat stations 8, 8, I8, and I2;

(3) Engine and boiler rooms I3 and I4; and/or (4) Night watchman and crews quarters I5 and I6.

The switch 3 at the control point is a distributing switch by which, at the will of the ocer in control, the microphone and amplifier may be put into communication with all stations at once or with one or more selected stations. The

microphone and switch assembly may, if desired,

be duplicated; thus there may be one microphone and switch assembly at each wing of the bridge and each of these may be arranged to be connected at will through one wiring system to the amplifier and loudspeakers.

An additional microphone and switch assembly I'I for emergency use are fixed adjacent to the after binnacle and both microphones are connected by alternative systems of wiring to the ampliiiers and to the loudspeakers. The wiring systems are indicated in chain lines and in dot-and-dash lines respectively in Fig. 1, and are preferably spaced apart in the ship in order to lessen the risk of simultaneous damage to both systems.

It is important that the equipment throughout should be, so far as possible, free from the risk of interference by re of other accident. Therefore, the electrical conductors are suitably concealed and are insulated by iireproof insulation and/or contained in fireproof sheaths or channels. 1'

In the wiring diagram, shown inv Fig. 5, the main microphone I is shown in a circuit having a source of E. M. F. I8, depicted as having one polegrounded; grounded` circuits being generally employed on shipboard. The additional microphone I1 is shownin similar circuit having a source of E. M. F. I9. also depicted with -one pole grounded. The selecting switch 3 is shown as connected in series with the microphone I and source of E. M. F. and has, by way of example, four poles or contacts engaged by a switch arm 30 by which three loudspeakers may be separately operated or all operated simultaneously. These contacts are denoted respectively 3|, 32, 33, and 34; the switch arm 38 being connected in series with the microphone.

From the contacts 3|, 32, and 33 are led parallel conductors 4|, 42, and 43 which Vhave interposed therein respectively switches as indicated at 44, 45 and 46 for selectively connecting the parallel systems of the network. One system is shown as comprising conductors 4|', 42', and 43 leading from contact poles 44', 45', and 46' that are engaged respectively by the switches 44, 45, and 46 in one position; there being another set of corresponding contact poles 54, 55, and- 56 engaged in the other position. The conductors 4|', 42' and 43' lead respectively to one of the poles of eachof the amplifying devices 41, 48, and 49 which comprise the amplifier, shown generally at 4. From the other pole of each of these devices are led in parallel the conductors 4|8, 420, and 430 whichl lead respectively to outlets shown at 6|, 1|, and 8|. (These may be regarded, by way of example, as located at stations 6, 1, and 8 on the ship.)

The outlets-to which the loudspeakers are connected are shown as comprising terminals 62 and 63, 12 and 13, and 82 and 8 3, respectively, that are each bridged by a resistance which is preferably that of the driving units 2| of the loudspeakers attached. The terminals 63, 13, and 83 each have connections, as shown at 64, 14, and 84, respectively, for grounding them, in

order that the circuits which actuate the loudtors 5|8, 528, and 530 which lead respectively to.

outlets 6|, 1|, and 8| in parallel with conductors 4|0, 420, and 438. Also associated with each selector switch at the microphone is master switch 65 which is preferably actuated by the key of the ofiicer in command and has two operative positions, in one of which it connects the microphone connection in series with the selector switch 3, while in the other it engages a contact 66 for short circuitlng the microphone when it is desired to test the circuits, as hereinafter more fully explained.

When it is desired to operate all the loudspeakers simultaneously, the switch arm 30 is moved into engagement with contact 34, provided for this purpose, which connects at one time all the circuits to the loudspeakers in parallel but in series with the microphone. To this end, there is shown a conductor 35 leading from the contact 34 that has a branch 36 leading to conductor 4|, a branch 31 leading to conductor 42, and a third branch 38 leading to conductor 43.

The circuits for actuating the loudspeakers from the additional microphone |1 are shown as comprising conductors 4|l, 42, and 43', which lead from a selector switch 3l and are connected respectively to switches 44, 45B, and 4|i which have two sets of contact poles, one of which are the terminals of the set of conductors 4| 42|, and 43| which are extensions of conductors 4|', 42', and 43';. the other set serving to connect the set of conductors 5||, 52|, and 53| that are extensions of conductors 5|, 52, and 53, The selector switch 3a has contacts 3|, 32, and 33a which correspond to those of selector switch 3. It is from these contacts that conductors 4|, 42a, and 43a lead. A contact 34EL provided t0- co'rrespond to contact 34 has connections whereby it connects all the loudspeakers for actuation in parallel. A master switch 65'l likewise has two operative positions similar to that shown at 65.

By the wiring arrangement thus provided, the microphone may be made to actuate the loudspeakers at outlets 6|, 1|, and 8| selectively by turning arm 30 to engage with contacts 3|, 32, and 33, respectively, or it may be made to operate all of the loudspeakers simultaneously by moving the switch arm to engage contact 34. This actuation may be made to take place through either of the parallel systems in the network, depending on the position of switches 44, 45, and 46; the master switch 66 being, of course, in position to connect the microphone in service. Similar actuation of the loudspeakers may be had from the additional microphone I1 by moving the selector switch 3'i to engage cor responding contacts, since the selector switches are substantially identical. The ampliiiers are,

of course, individually adjusted so that the loudspeakers at the respective stations reproduce acoustically the signals which enter the microphones with a volume of sound that is above a predetermined noise level.

'Ihe loudspeakers, as already indicated, are preferably of the character shown in my said copending application; a suitable form thereof 'being shown inFig. 4, where 20 denotes the driving cone operated by a permanent driving unit 2|, and 22 is the driven cone. The driving cone is supportedat its periphery by a ring 21 which is perforated to allow of free passage of air to and `from the space between the cones. Both cones are of metal and the driven cone is either of rustproof material or has its outer face painted, and if desired, a protective grating may be employed over the face of the driven cone. 'Ihe` speaker unit is enclosed in a damp-proof cylindrical casing 23, the back 24 of which may readily be removed for inspection by undoing holding screws 25 and the front of the casing being formed by the driven cone itself. l

The available output of each loudspeaker is preferably 15 watts at` least.` The adjustments l of theloudspeakers are such as to make it suitwall of' the cabin, that wall or plate may act as a baille plate around the driving and driven cones, while in the case of the boat stations, the

t loudspeakersyof the type described, may be embodied in a standard of each davit or in the ships plating adjacent to each boat station.

A pilot light 26, which may be on the back 24 of eachspeaker, is provided and connected in parallel with each speaker circuit so that this circuit may be tested without operating` the speaker and possibly thereby causing alarm.

In cases where a ship has twoor more engine rooms or wherediierent sections of a ship can be completely separated by bulkheads and water-tight doors, the loudspeaker stations according to this invention may be arranged or duplicated accordingly. Since certain changes may be `made in the above construction and different embodiments of the invention couldbe` made without departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or j shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a ships lsignaling system, the combination with a microphone located at al control point in the ship,rof an electrical network connected to said microphone, said network comprising duplicate wiring systems` running throughout the ship and located some distance apart, said systems having `common outlets located at selected stations in said ship, and loudspeakers of a charact/er adapted to reproduce sound connected to said outlets; said systems being adjusted to reproduce acous'tically the signals entering said microphone at said loudspeakers with a volume of sound above a predetermined noise level.

2.In a ships signaling system, the combination with a microphone located at a control point in the ship, of an electrical network connected to said microphone,` said network comprising duplicate wiring systems running throughout the ship and located some distance apart 4and each leading to common outlets located at selected stations in the ship. an amplifier for said network located at a desired point, a selecting switch connected in said network adjacent said microphone wherebya signal may be delivered to one ormore of said stations selectively at will, and loudspeakers capable of reproducing sound having a highly penetrating quality connected to each of said outlets.

3. In a ships signaling system, the combination with a microphone located at a control point in the ship, of anelectrlcal network connected to said microphone, said network comprising duplicate wiring systems running throughout the ship provided with protecting sheathing and located some distance apart, said systems having a plurality of common outlets located atselected stations in the ship, duplicate amplifiers associated with said systems at protected points in the ship and arranged for alternate use, a selecting switch associated withsaid systems and disposed adjacent said microphone whereby signal energy may be sent selectively to one or more of said stations,

and loudspeakers capable of reproducing sound with a highly penetrating quality connected respectively to said outlets and adjusted to reproduce signals with a volume of sound above a predetermined noise level.

4. In a ships signaling system, the combination with a microphone located at a control point in the ship, of an electrical network connected to said microphone, said network comprising duplicate wiring systems running throughout said ship and located some distance apart, said systems having a plurality of common outlets located at selected stations in the ship, loudspeakers capable of reproducing sound so as to have a highly penetrating quality connected respectively to said outlets, a pilot light associated with each of said loudspeakers, and a selecting switch associated with said network and arranged to select one or more of said loudspeakers to reproduce the signal at will and provided with means for illuminating said pilot light to test the circuit.

5. In a ships signaling system, the combination with microphones located respectively on the bridge and adjacent the binnacle, of an electrical network connected to said microphones comprisingduplicate wiring systems located some distance apart and having a plurality of common outlets located at selected stations in said ship, loudspeakers capable of reproducing sound so as `to have a highly penetrating quality connected to. each of said outlets, and selecting l switches connected in said network adjacent each of said microphones whereby one or more of said loudspeakers may be selectively operated at will.

6. In a ships signaling system of the character set forth in claim l, the use of loudspeakers which have two independent diaphragms spaced apart by a relatively narrow distance, `said diaphragms being conical in shape and having an angle at the apex which is substantially 178.

7. `In a ships signaling system of the character set forth in claim 1, the useof loudspeakers which have two independent diaphragms spaced apart by a relatively narrow distance, said diaphragms being conical'in form and made of rustproof metal. t

8. In a ships signaling system of the characterset forth in claim 1, the use of loudspeakers which have a. moistureproof casing set in a wall of the ship and a rustproof diaphragm closing the front of the loudspeaker. 

